Luke 4:35 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Luke 4:35 kjv
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
Luke 4:35 nkjv
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.
Luke 4:35 niv
"Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
Luke 4:35 esv
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.
Luke 4:35 nlt
But Jesus reprimanded him. "Be quiet! Come out of the man," he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.
Luke 4 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 4:31-32 | ...he taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. | Jesus' authoritative teaching preceded the miracle. |
| Mk 1:23-27 | ...an unclean spirit... And Jesus rebuked him... | Mark's parallel account of the same exorcism. |
| Mt 8:16 | ...cast out the spirits with his word... | Jesus expels demons by His word. |
| Mk 9:25 | ...Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, saying... I charge thee, come out of him... | Jesus' direct command to a demon. |
| Acts 16:17-18 | ...damsel possessed... Paul... said to the spirit, I command thee... come out of her. | Apostolic authority given by Jesus' name. |
| Lk 8:28 | ...What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? | Demons recognize Jesus' divine identity. |
| Mt 8:29 | ...art thou come hither to torment us before the time? | Demons fear Jesus' authority and judgment. |
| Jas 2:19 | ...the devils also believe, and tremble. | Demonic belief without redemptive faith. |
| Mk 1:34 | ...suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. | Jesus silencing demons for strategic reasons. |
| Lk 4:41 | And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak... | Jesus consistently silenced demons. |
| Acts 19:13-16 | ...to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus... | Authority in casting out demons is through Jesus. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | ...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth... | Jesus' supreme, universal authority. |
| Col 2:15 | Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. | Jesus' triumph over spiritual evil. |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | ...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. | Jesus' mission is to undo the devil's work. |
| Mk 1:26 | And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. | Other accounts of physical reaction upon exit. |
| Mt 17:18 | And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. | Immediate healing follows Jesus' rebuke. |
| Is 42:2 | He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. | Prophetic echo of Messiah's humble approach. |
| Ps 8:2 | ...that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. | God's power to silence adversaries. |
| Rev 20:1-3 | ...laid hold on the dragon... and bound him... | Prophetic future binding of Satan. |
| Lk 11:20 | But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. | Exorcisms as a sign of the Kingdom's presence. |
| 1 Pt 5:8-9 | ...your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith... | Reminder of ongoing spiritual warfare. |
| Eph 6:12 | For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers... | Understanding the nature of spiritual conflict. |
Luke 4 verses
Luke 4 35 meaning
Luke 4:35 records Jesus' definitive demonstration of divine authority over an unclean spirit. It signifies Jesus commanding the spirit to silence its unwanted proclamation of His identity and to immediately depart from the possessed man. This swift expulsion, coupled with the important detail that the man suffered no lasting harm despite the demon's final violent outburst, underscores Jesus' supreme power to deliver completely and protectively from evil, establishing Him as the ultimate master over all spiritual forces.
Luke 4 35 Context
Luke 4:35 is situated early in Jesus' Galilean ministry, immediately following His powerful teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum (Lk 4:31-32). The people were amazed by His authoritative word. This event occurs on a Sabbath and showcases Jesus' authority extending beyond teaching into the realm of spiritual power. The demon in the man instantly recognized Jesus, acknowledging Him as the "Holy One of God" (Lk 4:34) and perceiving Jesus' purpose to "destroy" them. Jesus' command in verse 35 is His swift, direct response, silencing the demon's declaration and forcing its expulsion, thus confirming His teaching authority through a potent miracle. The immediate aftermath in Luke 4:36-37 describes the widespread astonishment of the crowd at this unprecedented power and the ensuing fame of Jesus.
Luke 4 35 Word analysis
- And: Greek kai (καὶ). Connects Jesus' prior teaching and the demon's cry to His immediate action, showing a direct, forceful response.
- Jesus: Greek Iesous (Ἰησοῦς). The Christ, the Son of God, whose name embodies "The Lord is salvation." His very person embodies the authority exerted.
- rebuked: Greek epetimēsen (ἐπετίμησεν). An authoritative, stern command or censure. It implies power to silence and control, as Jesus exercised over fever (Lk 4:39) and the elements (Mt 8:26), and demons.
- him: Refers to the "unclean spirit" (daimonion) within the man, the recipient of Jesus' direct command.
- saying: Greek legōn (λέγων). Indicates the accompanying spoken words that convey Jesus' powerful directive.
- Hold thy peace: Greek phimōthēti (φιμώθητι). An imperative, meaning "be muzzled" or "be silenced." Jesus commands absolute quiet, not because the demon's confession ("Holy One of God") was untrue, but to prevent premature, misdirected, or demonic authentication of His messianic identity (Messianic Secret).
- and: Greek kai (καὶ). Links the dual commands of silence and expulsion.
- come out: Greek exelthe (ἔξελthe). A forceful, direct imperative commanding immediate departure. This verb consistently marks the forced exit of demons in the Gospels.
- of him: Indicates the departure of the demon from the human host, signifying liberation for the man.
- And when the devil: Greek kai riptsantos autou auto en mesō to daimonion (καὶ ῥίψαντος αὐτοῦ αὐτὸ ἐν μέσῳ τὸ δαιμόνιον - KJV says 'the devil,' but original is 'the demon' for the subject performing the action). This refers to the demon's final act.
- had thrown him in the midst: Greek riptsantos (ῥίψαντος). To throw, cast down, or hurl. The demon’s final act is a violent, public spasm of futile rage, attempting to cause harm or shock. "In the midst" highlights the public nature within the synagogue.
- he came out: Greek exelthen (ἐξῆλθεν). An immediate, involuntary, and undeniable departure, underscoring the demon's forced obedience to Jesus.
- of him: Confirming the man's release from the demon's control.
- and hurt him not: Greek kai ouden blapsas auton (καὶ οὐδὲν βλάψας αὐτόν). Blaptō (βλάπτω) means to injure or harm. This crucial detail, emphasized by Luke, demonstrates that despite the demon's violent display, Jesus' power protected the man completely. His deliverance was total, physically and spiritually intact.
Luke 4 35 Bonus section
- The incident highlights the distinct difference between true divine authority and pagan or occult practices of exorcism. Jesus did not employ incantations, rituals, or appeals to other powers; His own word was the power, revealing His inherent divinity.
- Demons, though spiritually knowing of Jesus' identity and power, remain adversarial. Their acknowledgment comes from compulsion and fear of ultimate judgment, not from worship or genuine submission to God's will. This starkly contrasts with the faith-driven surrender and love exhibited by Jesus' followers.
- This immediate and public exorcism served as powerful evidence for Jesus' claims and drew massive attention, validating His messianic ministry and preparing the ground for the broader message of the Kingdom.
Luke 4 35 Commentary
Luke 4:35 powerfully showcases Jesus' sovereign authority over spiritual evil. His concise two-part command—to be silent and to depart—reveals not just power, but total dominion; demons must obey His every word without delay or resistance, despite their inherent malice. The silencing of the demon's testimony, even if truthful, reveals Jesus' strategic control over the revelation of His identity, opting for a self-unveiling through His life and ministry rather than immediate, possibly misleading, declarations by spirits. The ensuing violent but ultimately harmless expulsion emphasizes that while evil desires to destroy, Jesus' liberating power ensures the complete well-being of the one He delivers. This episode serves as a clear sign that God's Kingdom had drawn near in the person of Jesus, who alone had the power to confront and decisively defeat the dominion of darkness. This demonstrates that for those whom Jesus delivers, the salvation is complete and protective, offering restoration even amidst spiritual conflict.